Towel dispensing cabinet



Aug. 2, 1938. J. DARMAN 5 TOWEL DISPENSING CABINET I Filed March 23,1936 4Sheets-Sheet l [JOSEPH .DARMAN Aug. 2, 1938. J DARMAN' 2,125,605

TOWEL DISPENSING CABINET Filed March 25, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 awe/WhomJOSEPH JJARMAN Aug. 2, .1938. J. DARMAN 2,125,605

TOWEL DISPENSING CABINET Filed March 25, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 0055/ 2?BAR/MAN vAug. 2, 1938.

' J. DARMAN TOWEL DISPENSING CABINET Filed March 23, 1936' 4 Sheets-meet4 JOSEPH EAIRMAN Patented Aug. 2, 1938 PATENT OFFICE TOWEL DISPENSINGCABINET Joseph Barman, Utica, N. Y.

Application March 23, 1936, Serial No. 70,242 3 Claims. (or Biz-c8) Myinvention relates to a towel dispensing cabinet and I declare thefollowing tobea full, clear, concise and exact description thereofsufficient to enable anyone skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsin which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout thespecification.

The object of my invention is toprovide a towel cabinet that can be hungon the wall and will occupy less wall space and hold a larger" supply oftoweling than has been possible heretofore. Furthermore, the object isto provide a towel timing control mechanism for said cabinet that willwork normally under any and all con-I ditions. More particularly it willnot be affected by the temperature of the room inwhich" it is locatednor will the dust accumulating thereon in any way'interfere with thenormal operation or function of the several parts of the mechanism.

anticipates this desirable feature by providing a timing mechanism,whereby a predetermined amount of time must intervene between one pulland the successive pull on the towel.

The object will be understood from the drawings in which Fig. l is aperspective view of the towel cabinet.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3,parts being in full lines.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. i

Fig. 4 is a detailed view somewhat enlarged showing a perspective of arocklever and immediate parts employed, enlarged.

Fig. 5 is a detailed view showing a perspective of towel actuating frameand its imme diate parts employed.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation.

Fig. 7 is a-detail view showing a perspective of a casing for housingcertain gears employed.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the device embodies acasing I having hinged thereto at 2, a door 3, latch member 4 that iscontrolled by a lock 5 operated by key 6. The turning of key 6 willactuate latch 4 to locked or unlocked position.

Cabinet I has a bottom portion II] that supports the towel actuationmechanism II, hereinafter described. Furthermore, mechanism H is alsosecured to the lateral sides l2, ll of cabinet I by bolts l3, nuts I4and spacing sleeves 15. The sides l1, I! of the towel actuating frame I8support a rock shelf [9. Shelf I9 is made preferably of metal. It hasits sides turned up at andwelded to the contiguous surfaces of side bars2|, 2|. .Bars 2|, 2| are fulcrumed upon stationaryshaft 22. Shaft 22 hasbearings at either end in sides [1,. I! of the towel actuating frame 18.A spacing sleeve 23 is mounted on stationary shaft 22 between thecontiguous surface of bars 2|, 2|, whereby to aid in holding said bars2|, 2| in given spaced relation to each other. The outeror free ends ofbars 2|, 2! are bent at an angle at 24 to form a ledge, whereby toprevent the towel roll 25 from rolling therefrom. Furthermore, a bar 26having reduced ends is mounted to the extreme outer or free ends'of bars2|, 2|, whereby to hold them in spaced relation at that location.

Shelf I9 is normally rocked upwards on its fulcrum shaft 22 by means offlat springs 30, 30.

Springs 30, 30 are secured by rivets M or otherwise to laterallyprojecting shelves 32 made integral or operatively connected with bars2| 2|. The lower ends of said springs 30 rest in front of laterallyprojecting studs 33 mounted to sides I7, I'!- of frame Hi. This springactuation of shelf I 9 permits said shelf to rock upwards as the supplyroll of towel 25 diminishes in size, whereby to allow space therebeneathfor the gradually increasing diameter of the soiled towel roll. Saidsprings 3t, 30 are sufilciently strong to pre vent shelf l9 from rockingbelow a horizontal position under the weight of supply roll of towel 25.As rock shelf l9 moves downward the free ends of springs 30, 3! willpress harder against laterally projecting pins 33, 33.

The means forlocking the towel actuating mechanism for intermittentperiods of time embodies roller 40. Roller 4|! is made preferably of ahollow cylinder 41 having end discs 42, 42 welded thereto. End discs 42,A2 provide hubs for mounting axles 43, M. Axles 43 and A l are rivetedat 45 to end discs 42, 42 in each instance. Axle 43, however, is reducedat 46 for mounting spur gear 41 that is keyed or forced thereon by adrive fit, whereby to turn therewith and again reduced at 48 to slide onits bearing on sides H, H of the towel actuating frame.

This sliding or longitudinal movement of roller 40 and axle 43towhichspur gear 41 is fixed will allow said spur gear 4'1 to move in and outof mesh with idle or middle spur gear 50 that has a loose bearing,whereby to turn thereon on inwardly projecting stud 5|. Idler spur gear50 is in mesh also with a third spur gear 52 mounted to turn on an axle53 that is fixed to the end of roller 54 much in the same manner thataxle 43 is mounted to one of the end discs 42 of! roller 40.

Spur gear 41, idler 50, and spur gear 52 are encased in a casing 55 thathas one side open, the one that is disposed adjacent the inner Wall ofside I'I. Casing 55 is equipped with apertured extensions 56, 56,whereby it can be screw bolted to the inner surface of side I'l. Spurgear 41 connected to roller 40, idler spur gear 56, and spur gear 52connected to roller 54, will cause said rollers 40 and 54 to revolve inthe same direction.

' Axle 53 of roller 54 projects through one of the sides H of frame I8and extends laterally therefrom. A cam or eccentric 60 is mounted toturn with axle 53. It is fixed to axle 53 by pin 6| extending throughboss 62 of cam 60 and engaging axle 53. When cam 60 turns it engagesroller 63 mounted to revolve on lateral projecting stud 64 having atight fitting bearing in arm 65 of rock lever 66. Rock lever 66 ispivoted at 6'! to a laterally projecting stud mounted in one of thesides I? ofmechanism II. The extreme outer end 68 of lever 66 is offsetat 69 and has mounted thereto a laterally projecting pin I0. 'Pin"'l0extends laterally through a loose aperture on the lower or free end ofpiston rod II. The upper end of rod II is connected to a piston I2 incylinder'13. A set screw I4 mounted in the upper end of cylinder I3controls the amount of .air admitted to the upper end of cylinder I3,whereby to govern the velocity with which piston I2 ascends in cylinderI3. Cylinder I3 is mounted to one of the sides ll of mechanism I I by aright angled bracket 15 having a bifurcated end I6 which straddles screw14 mounted in the upper end of cylinder I3. Bracket 15 is attached bybolts or rivets I8, 18 to one of the sides I! of frame I 8.

The opposite end of rock lever 66 has attached by rivets 80, 80 abracket 8| offset at 82. A weight 83 is formed on depending portion 84that lies inparallel relation to the adjacent surface of bracket BI andattached thereto by rivets 85, '85. Weight 83 will tend to rock lever 66into the full line position indicated in Fig. 5, whereby piston 72 willbe in its uppermost position in cylinder 13.

The means for locking roller 40 temporarily against rotation embodies apin 86 mounted and projecting laterally from axle 53. When lever 66 isin dotted line position shown in Fig. 5, pin 86 will be below theoverhanging member 81 securely fixed to the upper part of 88 of rocklever 66. When rock lever 66 is moved to full line position shown inFig. 5 pin 86 will be uncovered and rollers 40 and 54 can be againturned through one revolution or until cam 60 rocks lever 66 into dottedline position shown in Fig. 5.

The means for temporarily holding towel roll 25 when loading thecabinet, embodies a shelf 9I preferably made of metal. It comprisesupstanding end ridges 92, 93 and is attached to rock arms 94, 94 pivotedat 95, 95 to the forward lower 1 extensions 96, 96 of sides IT, I! offrame I8. A

of axle 44 when rock arms 94, 94 are swung upward in full line positionillustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. Moreover, this. is the position said arms94, 94 will occupy when the cabinet is in use.

The means for holding toweling 25 against the surface of roller 40,which is covered with sand paper or other suitable friction producingmaterial embodies a Weighted roller IOI supported to revolve upon anaxle I02 carried in swinging arms I03, I03 that are pivoted at I04, I04to sides I1, I! of frame I8.

The soiled toweling 25 is accumulated upon weighted roller I 05 havingarbors I 06, I06 that extend into open slots I01, I01 formed in sidesI1, I! of frame II, whereby said roller I05 can move upward as toweling25 is wound thereon. When free from toweling 25, roller I05 will rest atits lower level upon the adjacent surface of roller 54, whereby saidroller 54 which is covered on its outer surface with sand paper, willcause accumulating roller I05 to revolve therewith and wind the soiledtoweling 25 thereon.

The means for limiting the rotation of roller 54 in a clockwisedirection embodies a ratchet II fixed to turn with shaft 53 of roller 54and a pawl III pivoted at II2 to one of the sides I! of frame II. PawlIII has a counterweighted arm H3. It will allow the teeth of ratchet IIOto pass in a clockwise direction but not in a counterclockwisedirection. This clockwise rotation of roller 54 assures acounterclockwise rotation and not otherwise of accumulating roller I05,whereby to wind soiled toweling 25 thereon.

The means for automatically closing the opening where soiled toweling 25re-enters the cabinet contemplates a rock lid II having trunnions formedat H6, H6 which project into suitable bearings formed in sides I I, I!of frame II. The free end of lid II5 rests when closed upon clips H1, H1attached to the upstanding edge I I8 adjacent sides I! of a partialcasing II9 disposed between sides IT, IT, whereby to leave an elongatedopening at I20 for the passage of towel 25. A flat spring I 2| isfastened by screw bolts I22, I22 to the top of lid I I 5. Its freeupstanding part I23 will bear against the inner back surface I24 ofcabinet I, whereby to hold lid I I5 normally closed or against the uppersurface of clips II'I, II I on upstanding edge II8 of casing II9.

Cabinet I is provided with a door I25 mounted on hinges I26, I26fastened to a front edge of casing I. Latch 4 heretofore mentionedengages an edge I29 formed by making an elongated aperture in casing I30of door I25, whereby to hold said door I25 closed and locked.

Frame I8 is supported in cabinet I not only by the bolts I3 mentionedabove but also by a ledge I3I welded or otherwise secured to back wallI33.

When loading toweling 25, door I25 will be opened and loading shelf 9|swung down into full line position illustrated in Fig. 5. The towelroll. 25 will be placed upon rock shelf 9i. The free end of toweling 25will be led down between bar 26 and the free edge I32 of rock shelf l9,then over the far side or under surface of shelf 9|, then down in frontof weighted roller IDI thence thereunder partially around the back ofactuating roller 40 up over the rod 91 which will be located above thelower circumference of roller 46 when arms 94, 94 are swung upwards intodotted line position shown in Fig. 3. Toweling 25 passes then down belowcabinet I with a long I29 formed between the free end of lid H5 and theadjacent edge H3 of partial casing H9, lid

H5 being opened against the tension of spring actuating'roller 43 willbe revolved and thereby turn the train of gears 41, and 52, whereby tocause rear actuating roller 54 to revolve in the same direction and atthe same speed. This actuation of roller 54 will turn accumulatingroller I85, whereby toweling 25 will wind thereon.

Should it bedesirable to spin roller 40 or to pull the towel freely fromroll 25, the operator will move roller 45 longitudinally to the left,whereby to withdraw gear 41 on one end of roller 4 from meshing withidler gear 50.

When gear 41 is in mesh with gear 50 which in turn is in mesh with gear52 tight to axle 53, the turning of axle 53 will rotate cam or eccentricwhich will engage roller 63 mounted to rock with lever 66 on its fulcrum61;

This rocking of lever 66 will elevate weight 83 and lower piston 12 inits cylinder 13. Overhanging member 81 on lever 66 will be brought inthe path of pin 86 on axle 53 and thereby temporarily arrest the furtherturning of rollers 40 and 54 until piston 12 has ascended in cylinder I3and lever 66 under the weight of 83 has rocked back to normal ororiginal position. The time between pulls on towel 25 can be governed byregulating set screw 14 which controls the admission of air to cylinder13. Each pull on towel 25 allows for one complete revolution of rollers40 and 54 before arresting the motion, as above described.

'It will be observed that auxiliary shelf 9| heretofore mentioned fortemporarily holding towel roll 25 when loading the machine is a swingingshelf, whereby it serves not only for the purpose of a temporary shelfbut also when in closed position as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. Itserves also as a front partition.

The means for holding door 3 in correct position with reference tocabinet l embodies a projection I36 on door 3 and a recess I31 on thefront edge of cabinet I.

When auxiliary swinging shelf 9! is in dotted line position shown inFig. 5 or full line position shown in Fig. 1 blade I98 will lie oppositeshaft 44, whereby to prevent the roller 40 from moving longitudinally todisengage spur gear 41 from idler 50. This will prevent spinning thetowel when the cabinet is closed.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In a towel dispensing cabinet, a towel supply, a rock shelf forsupporting said towel, a roller for accumulating said towel thereon,open bearings for supporting said accumulating roller, other rollersmounted in said cabinet for rotating said accumulating roller, a shaftfor supporting one of said actuating rollers, a pin mounted in saidshaft, a lever for engaging said pin, whereby to arrest rotation of saidactuating rollers, a piston rod connected with said lever, a pistonconnected with said piston rod, a dash pot in which said piston moves,whereby to control the movement of said lever and a cam member mountedon said shaft, whereby to rock said lever to locking position.

2. In a towel dispensing cabinet, a towel supply, a rock shelf forsupporting said towel supply, a removable roller for accumulating saidtowel thereon, rollers for actuating said accumulating roller, gearsconnecting said actuating rollers, a shaft for supporting one of itsactuating rollers, a pin extending from said shaft, a lever having anover-hang for engaging said pin, whereby to arrest the rotation of saidactuating rollers, a weight for rocking said lever in counterclockwisedirection, and a piston for timing the rocking of said lever in saidclockwise direction.

3. In a towel dispensing cabinet, a towel supply, a rock shelf forsupporting said towel supply, a

roller for accumulating said towel thereon, an

arrest the rotation of said actuating roller, a cam carried on saidshaft, whereby to rock said lever into said pin engaging position, aweight carried by said lever, whereby to rock it into releasing positionand a piston connected with said lever for controlling the velocity ofrocking of said lever.

JOSEPH DARMAN.

